Multiple rolling mechanism



March 4, 1952 2,588,120

J. J. INGELS MULTIPLE ROLLING MECHANISM Filed May 7, 1947 2 SHEET SSHEET l Jzzvezztor:

James (ZZZ-15615 Attorzz March 4, 1952 J. J. INGELS 2,583,120

MULTIPLE ROLLING MECHANISM Filed May 7, 1947 SHEETS--SHEET 2 UIIIIIIIIII Z &

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I'M K1[ E -1 up N 1 i o 2 R "I K b I w c? H inventor: I r/ mes Jfzzgels' [Q4 Patented Mar. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE MULTIPLE ROLLING MECHANISM James J. Ingels, Chicago, 111.

Application May '7, 1947, Serial No. 746,499

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a rolling machine for operating upon metallic sheets or strips to produce desired cross sectional changes in the contour thereof. The machine comprises plural sets of companion rolls, one above the other, the lower rolls being journaled in fixed bearings and the upper rolls being journaled in bearings which are individually floated in a common frame. The improvements which characterize the present invention are directed in large part to the mountings for the bearings in the frame whereby the rolls which are journaled therein may cooperate with the remaining rolls in both sets to produce a more satisfactory operation upon the metallic sheets or strips as they are advanced successively through the machine.

These and other objects of my invention will appear from the description to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary view in perspective of the machine, showing the parts thereof which appear above the work supporting table;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail in section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail in section, taken on line 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a similar view, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5- is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing the arrangement of upper and lower sets of rolls lengthwise of the machine;

Fig. 6 which is a view similar to Fig. 2, shows a modification in the roll arrangement; and

Figs. '7, 8, and 9 are fragmentary perspective views each showing one kind of edge conformation that may be produced advantageously with a machine embodying the present invention.

I provide in the machine herein illustrated a work table T which surmounts a supporting cabinet wherein may be contained a motor (not shown) and driving mechanism which includes a main driving gear III in mesh with a gear II which is entrained with other gears I2, I3, I4, and I5. Other gears (not shown) to the left of center of Fig. 5 may also be included in a second train driven by the same main gear I0. Both trains of gears are extended longitudinally of the machine between a pair of frame walls W which rise from a supporting base (not shown). As by means of bolts I6 extending between these walls, and sleeves I! carried by the bolts between the walls, I provide for maintaining them a fixed distance apart. The table may be sectional so as to accommodate in its center region the frame walls W together with the two gear trains therebetween.

The first train of gears II, I2, I3, I4, and I5 are mounted fast on shafts 2|, 22, 23, 24, and 25, respectively, whereas those in the second train are mounted fast on shafts whose axes are designated respectively as a, b, c, d, and e. All of these shafts are extended transversely through the frame walls and are journaled for rotation within suitable bearings therein. The shafts 2 I, 23 and 25, also the shafts whose axes are denoted as a, c and e, are of sufficient length to extend outwardly beyond the frame walls to carry operating rolls L at their opposite ends. The intermediate shafts, viz. 22, 24 and those whose axes are denoted as b and d, are provided to carry the inbetween gears (such as I2 and I4) to complete the train and provide for a unidirectional rotation of all the shafts which mount the operating rolls L. From this point on I will treat the two trains of gears as a single system, since all the gears operate in unison in response to motion transmitted from the driving gear III.

The rolls L carried by the shafts above noted may be all alike. They constitute together a lower set of rolls. The description to follow will deal mostly with a single lower roll L and its companion upper roll U, it being understood that the upper set will comprise the same number of rolls as the lower.

Each upper roll U is mounted fast on a shaft 30 (see Fig. 2) which extends transversely through the two frame walls. Secured to each shaft 30 is a gear 3I which is positioned between the two frame walls, each gear 3I being in meshing relation with an alternate gear in the train already described. By some such means as this, I provide for driving the upper set of rolls U in unison with the rolls L in the lower set, the latter being in coacting relation with each alternate gear in the train which interconnects them all.

Each shaft 30 which mounts a pair of upper rolls U is journaled for rotation in a bearing 33 carried in a block B (see Figs. 35) which is poend is in thrust engagement with the bottom of the slot (see Fig. 3). In this way the bearing block B may be resiliently supported within the slot of the frame Wall W, the flanges 36 serving as guides to confine the block movements to a vertical plane.

The top face of each block B is also socketed at 40 to form a seat for the lower end of a second compression spring 42 whose upper end is fitted within a socket 43 on the underface of a cap bar C which overlies one of the frame walls W to which it is fixedly secured as by stud bolts 45. By the means described, the upper compression spring 42 in opposition with the lower spring 39 will provide a resilient floating mounting for the bearing block B therebetween.

In operation, a set of rolls of desired peripheral contour will be mounted on the upper and lower shafts, so as to receive between them the metal strips or sheets which are to be operated upon. These sheets are adapted to be slid lengthwise along guides 41 which may be affixed to the table T at desired places. The table height is fixed so as to be close to the nip between the upper and lower sets of rolls whereby the work s supported thereon will be correctly positioned to enter therebetween.

As is well-known in the sheet metal working art it is possible to produce many different crosssectional forms and interlocks in strips or sheets that are operated upon. Three such contours are suggested in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, the first showing a drive cleat interlock with the turned edges of a pair of adjacent sheets, the second a Pittsburgh lock, and the third a standing edge. Any of these different forms, also various others, may be produced expenditiously by the present machine.

Although the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2 provides for a pair of operating rolls at opposite ends of each upper and lower shaft, disposed to the outside of the spaced frame walls W, it may be advantageous to affix to each upper and lower shaft a third roll 50 and 5|, respectively, which will be positioned between the two frame walls. An example of this is shown in Fig. 6. In a set-up of this kind, the strips s to be operated upon by the intermediate upper and lower rolls are fed through the machine between the spaced frame walls W which may serve as a guiding means therefor. The three sets of rolls illustrated in Fig. 6 are peripherally contoured to produce bends in the work corresponding to the showings in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the rolls of Fig. 6 (reading from left to right),being designed to provide a standing edge, a drive cleat, and a Pittsburgh lock, respectively.

In operation, the varying conditions to be encountered will require that one set of rolls yield with respect to the other as the work advances through between them. For this purpose I have provided the spring supported bearing blocks for one set of rollsthe upper ones, for example. The floating mounting provided for each bearing block is such as to provide a normal predetermined distance of separation between its associated roll and the one that is companion thereto, so that the work advanced therebetween may be operated upon in the intended manner. The relative strengths of the opposing springs between which each block is floated is also an important factor to be taken into account in this connection.

The normal clearance between the upper and lower forming rolls may be about .015. When a sheet heavier than this thickness is passed between the rolls, then the floating upper roller may rise as required to accommodate such a sheet. The range of movement is normally rather slightnot enough to produce any appreciable tilting of an upper shaft so as to affect the operation of the roll at the opposite end.

The entire assembly and arrangement of operating parts which are included in the present machine is simple and effective to meet varying conditions. The floating movement of the upper rolls is confined by the vertical guideway within which the bearing blocks are fitted. In case of any replacements or repairs, it is necessary only to remove one or both of the cap bars whereupon any one or more of the upper roll assemblies is fully accessible or available for replacement. To protect the gear train between the two frame walls I may fit a closure strip between them and along the top ends, as shown.

I claim:

1. In a multiple rolling machine, in combination, a frame comprising two parallel spaced vertical walls wherein are vertical guideways at spaced points lengthwise thereof a bearing block having a vertically slidable mounting in each guideway, means for floating each block in its guideway, an upper row of shafts projecting at each end exteriorly of the frame, one journaled for rotation in each bearing block, a pair of spaced forming rolls carried by each shaft to the outside of the frame walls, and a third forming roll carried thereby between the walls and adjacent one of them, other shafts extending in a lower row below the upper shaft row and parallel therewith and projecting at each end exteriorly of the frame, fixed bearings wherein the shafts in the lower row are journaled for rotation carried by the walls of the frame, a pair of spaced forming rolls carried by the ends of each shaft in the lower row and located outside the vertical walls of the frame and in coacting relation with the outer roll on the shaft in the upper row, and a third roll carried by each lower shaft between the frame walls and adjacent one of them in coacting relation with the proximate roll thereabove, and a train of gears intermediately of the frame walls interconnecting all of the shafts for imparting unidirectional rotation thereto, all of said gears being of uniform thickness and located contiguous to the inner side face of said third rolls and substantially filling the space between said third rolls and the other wall or the frame.

2. In a multiple lOlllIlg machine, in combination, a frame comprising two spaced vertical parallel walls wherein are vertical guideways at spaced points lengthwise thereof, a bearing block having a vertically slidable mounting in each guideway, means for floating each block in its guideway, a first row of shafts projecting at each end exteriorly of the vertical walls of the frame, one journaled for rotation in each bearing block, a pair of spaced forming rolls carried by the ends of each shaft to the outside of the frame walls, and a third forming roll carried thereby between the walls and adjacent one of them, other shafts projecting at each end of said vertical walls and extending in-a second row vertically spaced from the first row of shafts and parallel therewith, fixed bearings wherein the shafts in the second row are journaled for rotation carried by the walls of the frame, a pair of spaced forming rolls located outside the vertical walls of the frame and carried by the ends of each shaft in this second row in coacting relation with 5 6 the outer rolls on the shafts in the first row, and REFERENCES CITED a third r011 carried by each shaft in this second The following references are of record in the row between the frame Walls and adjacent one hi t of them in coasting relation with the proximate file of t 5 en roll in the first row, and a train of gears inter- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS mediately of the frame walls interconnecting all Number Name Date of the shafts for imparting unidirectional ro- 803,859 Shifley Nov. 7, 1905 tation thereto, said gears being of uniform thick- 815,710 Johnson Mar. 20, 1906 ness and located at the inner side of the third 1,233,732 Vernon July 17, 1917 rolls and substantially filling the space between 10 1,261,735 Hunker Apr. 2, 1918 the same and the other side wall of the frame. 1,937,466 Smith et a1. Nov. 28, 1933 2,275,629 Ingels Mar. 10, 1942 JAMES J. INGELS. 2,283,258 Jensen May 19, 1942 2,436,383 Dettman Feb. 24, 1948 

